Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-20

Massachusetts avenue, In neat but unostenta-
tious house. adjoining the one occupied as the
once OF the Fish Commission. Here he lived with
Baird. Much OF his work was done at his home
He seldom went out into society, and though a
member OF the Cosmos Club, and OF various scien-
He was one OF the founders OF the Philosophical
society OF washington and OF the National
Of St tSs NE ws aSe an
other societies here These bodies WILL at early
day. take suitable action In respect to his memory.
PROP. fowKLL's TRIBUTE.
Prot. j. W. Powell, the director OF Geological
Survey returned to the city last evening from his
unfinished western trip, having been recalled by
news OF the serious condition OF Prot. Baird. In
conversation with STAR reporter this morning
tho pro ;o pewsn said Il have known Pre- Prof Baird for
me- There has been nothing OF Importance that
have undertaken In that time that have not first
consulted with Prot. Baird. He was the greatest
man ever knew He knew more than any man
nave ever come in contact with. He knew every
subject with which he had to do thoroughly. He
was perhaps his ability as an organizer 1t was
given CIV ,tnohin to him to accomplish % what few men
aTs sapaoe Of in sns
National Museum and the U. S. Fish Commission.
Prof Baird was man OF great practical sense.
broad comprehension OF the relative importance
OF details. He was an unselnsh man. His per-
sonal interests were lost sight Of In the interests
public money with the careful scrutiny that most
men give to their private affairs. His entire un-
Selnshness and devotion to his work, as well as
MS practical sense. was appreciated by the COM
mittees OF Congress when he appeared before them
to explain the needs for the money asked for Prof
fortune that the smithsonian Institution has had
In succession two such eminent men Prof.
Henry and Prof Baird. There is no doubt but
that Prof Langley will succeed Prof. Baird Sec
retary OF the Smithsonian"
SKETCH OF HIS IIPE
Spencer Fullerton Baird was born at Reading
Pa, February 3, 1923. His ancestry upon the one
side was English, upon the other Scotch and Ger
man. His great grandfather on the mothers side
war preachers Of the Revolution, whose patriotic
elOquencs was so influential that q price was set
on his head BY the British government. Samuel
tablished himself as a lawyer at Reading, Pa, and
died when his son was ten years old. He was a
Of ns ovee song Close OBJ
pursuits His traits were inherited by his children
but especially by his sons Spencer and William.
begin collecting specimens, and as early as 1896
had IN hand collection OF the game-birds OF Cum
berland County: His brother soon became his
National Museum specimens OF birds prepared by
these boys fortyfve years ago BY simple process
OF eylscsration, followed by stufing the body
cavities full OF cotton and arSenicaI soap. The
brother, VIM. NJ Baird, diverged into other paths,
and at the time OF his death in 1872 was United
states COucCtOr OF internal revenue at Reading,
The Inheritance OF love OF nature and taste for
scientific classification, the companiOnship OF a
brother similarly GIFTED, tended to the develop
ment OF the young naturalist. In 1s41, ut the age
OF eighteen, he made an OrnithOl0gical excursion
through the mountains Of Pennsylvania, walking
400 miles In twenty-one days the last day 90 miles
walked more than 200 miles The fine physique
and consequent capacity for work were doubtless
due In part to his outdoor life during these years
In 1884, then eleven years OF age young Baird was
sent to Quaker boarding school kept by DR.. Nc
Graw. at Port Deposit, Nd, and the year following
to the Reading Grammar school In 1886 he en-
tered Dickinson college, and was graduated at
the age OF seventeen. After leaving college his
time Tor several years was devoted to studies in
published number OF original papers on natural
history. He also read medicine with DR.. Middleton
Goldsmith, attending winter course OF lectures
at the College OF Physicians and Surgeons, In New
York, In 1S42. His medical course was never
formally completed, although In 1S4S he received
the degree OF NJ D, honorts camsa, from the Phil
adelphla Medical Cullege., In 1S45 he was chosen
professor OF natural histofy in Dickinson College,
and later his duties and emOlumentS were In.
creased by election TO the chair OF natural history
and chemistry in the same institution In 1s4S
he declined call to the prOfessorship OF natural
science in the University OF Vermont. In 1s49 he
undertook his first extensive literary work, trans
lating and editing the text for the 'IconOgraphic
Encyclopedia" an English version OF Hecks Bitder
Attas, published In connection with Brockhaus'
Conversations LeIikon. July 5, 1850, he accepted
the position OF Assistant Secretary Of the Smith
sonian Institution and october 3, at the age OF
CWeQCy.SeVeO years, ne entered upon MS lie Work
in connection with that tfOundatiOn-"the increase
and diffusion OF useful knowledge among men,"
in accordance with the motto Of the Smithsonian
Institution and its founder, James SmithsOn. In
1878, upon the death OF Prof. Henry, he was by
the unanimous vote OF the regents elected Secre-
tary OF the Institution.
An important stimulus to the efforts of young
Baird as q naturalist was the friendship which he
formed as early as 1888 with Audubon, with whom
he was for many years In correspondence, and
who, In 1872, gave to him the greater part OF his
collection OF birds including most OF his types of
new species. Young Baird contributed many facts
and specimens for the history OF North American
quadruped at that time In preparation, and he was
only prevented by 1ll-health from accompanying
Audubon, as his secretary, on his six months ex-
peditiOn to the Yellowstone in 1S4O.
The last thlrty-Seven years OF the late Prof.
Bairds life were devoted to the development OF the
Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum,
and the Fish Commission. For nine years OF that
period he was secretary and responsible head OF
the Smithsonian, and for thirty-One years he was
the principal executive officer. His numerous con-
tribuJiOns to science and scientific literature show
how labOrtOusly he devoted himself TO his work.
Up to 1882 the list OF his writings contained O63
titles.